Special attention for interest rates or political bin fire?
Splitting the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board in two opens up the bank’s experts to focus more specifically on monetary policy. Click here to read more.
Being approved for a rental will often fill you with joy and even a sense of relief. But being accepted is only the first step on the journey. After this, you will need to sign your lease, pay your bond, pick up the keys and do you condition report. But there is a whole host of things on your to-do list next to get your rental up and running.
Making sure you have power and gas when you move in can make your transition into a rental easier and more comfortable, so it’s a good idea to organise your utilities in advance.
You can call up your provider and organise to have everything turned on the day you move in. But the company will need a few days to set this up in advance.
Be sure to do research on your provider to make sure you get the best deals. Also consider whether you want a long or short contract and adjust your plan accordingly.
Moving day can be stressful – the secret is to have a game plan to make everything run smoothly.
Here is a checklist of everything you need to think about for the big day:
Making your new home feel like it’s yours can be a lot of fun.
But it also requires a lot of thought about exactly what you need to make a house a home – not to mention a whole lot of decorating.
Obviously, a house renovation is off the cards when you are renting but there are a few quick hacks that will help make a rental feel more homely.
Rentals are not set and forget.
As a tenant you are required to maintain a property and this can take money and time.
This includes mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, keeping toilets clean, washing walls occasionally and replacing light bulbs.
A key point to remember is putting in a little effort regularly is much easier than tackling a massive clean when you need to move out.
There are exceptions when it comes to maintenance and this includes major repairs, like fixing leaking taps and appliances, that are the responsibility of your landlord and should be raised early on to avoid aggravating any issue.
Scarcity of property, or simply stress, can make it easy for renters to rush into a lease agreement. But once you move in, you’re committed for the long haul so here are some common mistakes to avoid.
Not reading the fine print – lease agreements can occasionally have end of lease requirements, or rules and additional requests that may take you by surprise.
Choosing the wrong dwelling – apartment living and house living offer vastly different lifestyles and while we can adapt, it can be costly to end a lease, so be sure about what type of property you need and want.
Not doing an in-depth condition report – it’s easy to underestimate the importance of a condition report, especially when you are viewing your new home with rose-coloured glasses.
Not evaluating the neighbourhood – often tenants have tunnel vision and can fail to take a good look at the area and neighbours, which could have an impact on your residency.
Not getting things fixed early – renters can easily ignore small issues like a faulty stove or leaking tap, but this could be hiding a bigger problem. Raise issues with your landlord as soon as you notice them.
Not putting new housemates on the lease – it can be annoying filling out the paperwork but it does bring peace of mind. Any flatmate who is not on the lease has no legal responsibility and could leave you with the cost if they skip town without paying rent or damaging the property.
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Splitting the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board in two opens up the bank’s experts to focus more specifically on monetary policy. Click here to read more.
It’s the news no happy tenant wants to hear: the landlord is selling. Click here to read more.